Fire Safety in the Home: 5 Tips to Keep Your Family Safe

A house fire is every family's worst nightmare. But did you know that there are some simple steps you can take to dramatically reduce the risk of a fire in your home? By following these five tips for home fire safety, you can give your family the best chance possible of staying safe in the event of a fire.

Install Smoke Alarms 

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Smoke alarms save lives by giving you an early warning in the event of a fire. Check the batteries in your smoke alarms monthly and replace them at least once per year. 

Make a Plan

Develop and practice a home fire escape plan. Sit down with your family and make a plan for what everyone will do in the event of a fire. Practice the plan regularly so that everyone knows what to do and where to go if there is a fire. Make sure everyone knows how to call 911. 

Be Responsible 

Keep flammable items like lighters and matches out of reach of children. Store them in a high, locked cabinet where curious little hands can't get to them. Teach your children about the dangers of fire and why they should never play with matches or lighters.

Beware of Outlets

Don't overload electrical outlets or extension cords. Overloaded outlets are one of the leading causes of house fires. If you need to use extension cords, make sure they are not frayed or damaged in any way. Never use them as a permanent solution - only as a temporary measure until you can install additional outlets where needed.

Don’t Leave Candles

Don't leave candles unattended or burning overnight. If you must use candles, make sure they are placed in sturdy candle holders and away from anything that could catch fire (curtains, bedding, etc.). Extinguish candles before going to bed or leaving the room where they are burning. Never leave candles burning unattended.

By following these five simple tips for home fire safety, you can help keep your family safe from the risk of a house fire. Remember, smoke alarms save lives - so make sure you have them installed on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas! And don't forget to practice your home fire escape plan regularly with your family so that everyone knows what to do if there is ever a fire in your home. If a fire does occur, use fire damage restoration services like St. Louis Cleaning and Restoration. They can help get rid of smoke and soot from your home. 

Fire Safety Requirements for Your Home's Bedrooms

Though fires in the home are relatively rare, they can cause extensive damage to your property and put your family at risk. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to reduce the risks posed by bedroom fires. In this blog post, we'll cover some of the most important fire safety requirements for bedrooms in your home.

Smoke Alarms

One of the most important things you can do to prevent bedroom fires is to install smoke alarms. Smoke alarms give you an early warning in the event of a fire, giving you and your family time to escape. It's important to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, as well as in hallways leading to bedrooms. In addition, you should test your smoke alarms monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year.

Fire Extinguishers

Another key element of fire safety in the bedroom is having a fire extinguisher on hand. Fire extinguishers can be used to put out small fires before they have a chance to spread. It's a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher in each bedroom, as well as in common areas like the kitchen and living room. Be sure to familiarize yourself with how to use a fire extinguisher before you need it!

Escape Plans

In the event of a fire, it's important to have an escape plan. You should practice your escape plan with your family so that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency. Your escape plan should include at least two ways out of each room, as well as a designated meeting place outside of the home. Review your escape plan regularly and update it as necessary.

Quick Escape Route

Large windows are an important feature in bedrooms, particularly for fire safety. They make it easier for people to escape during an emergency situation, especially when it comes to basement bedrooms. When faced with a window well replacement or upgrade project, homeowners should think carefully about the benefits of installing large windows and window wells in their basement rooms, as they can ultimately help save lives in the case of a fire.

By taking some simple precautions, you can greatly reduce the risks posed by fires in the home. Be sure to install smoke alarms in every bedroom and test them monthly. In addition, keep a fire extinguisher on hand and familiarize yourself with how to use it. Finally, create an escape plan and quick escape route and practice it with your family regularly. By following these tips, you can help keep your family safe from harm in the event of a fire.

Guest Post - 4 Ways to Keep Your House Safe From Home Fires

It’s on most people’s list of absolute worst nightmares: waking up at night to the smell of smoke, and discovering your home is on fire. It’s safe to say that preventing a home fire is on every homeowner’s priority list — but what can you do to ensure that your family is safe?

There are a few steps that everyone should take to ensure that their family, furry friends, and property are protected from the possibility of a home fire. We’re here to walk you through those steps. Use this guide to start your journey toward a safer home for you and the people you love. 

Invest in smoke detectors

Seems obvious? Think twice. Three out of every five home fire deaths in the US occur in homes without any smoke detectors. Investing in high-quality smoke detectors is an essential part of keeping your home and your family safe from fires. 

However, not all smoke detectors are equal. There are two important factors to consider as you shop around for the right detector for your home: the quality of the smoke detectors, and where you place them. Smoke detectors should be spaced evenly throughout the house, in all bedrooms, and on every floor — including the basement. Be sure they are also placed on the ceiling rather than near the floor or on walls; remember, smoke rises. 

The fact is that it’s easier than you think to sleep through the smell of smoke — until it’s too late. Having a sensitive smoke detector with a loud alarm makes it more likely you’ll wake up in time to react. And when you are awake and can react, you’ll need a fire extinguisher. 

Purchase fire extinguishers

Having a fire extinguisher in your home may seem overly precautious — that is, until you walk into the kitchen and the toaster is up in flames. Every home should have at least one fire extinguisher, but it’s wise to have several spaced throughout the house, just in case the flames make it impossible to reach your extinguisher. 

Fire extinguishers are an essential part of every home safety kit, like a first aid kit or spare water. They can be easily purchased at most hardware stores, or online, so don’t worry about struggling to find one. Trust us, a good fire extinguisher can make the difference between a small mishap and a total catastrophe, especially when it comes to electrical fires. 

Ensure electronics and wiring are up to date

Electrical fires can be some of the most dangerous. That’s because water conducts electricity, meaning that if you dump water on an electrical fire, you could be electrocuted — you could make the fire much, much worse. Note that fire extinguishers with a Class C rating are suitable for live electrical fires; be sure to purchase yours accordingly. 

However, having a Class C fire extinguisher isn’t your only way to stop electrical fires in your home. The best way to stop them is to prevent them in the first place. Preventing electrical fires is as simple as following these precautions:

• Ensure that the wiring in your home is up to date. A professional electrician can make this kind of assessment, and help you replace wiring that may be faulty or dangerously out of date. 

• Regularly upkeep major electrical appliances. Coffee makers, toasters, electrical stoves — you name it, you should regularly clean it and ensure that it’s in working order. Check to make sure power chords aren’t frayed or damaged. 

• The same goes for other electronics. Even smaller items like laptop computers and vape batteries can cause fires if they’re damaged. Be sure to repair or replace them if they are. 

• Practice fire safety around electronics by keeping water or flammable material (like curtains, clutter, or plants) away from outlets. 

Precaution is important, but even the safest and most up-to-date of homes should have an action plan. 

Make an action plan & educate your family

If there is a fire, does everyone in your household know what to do? If not, you could be in for a serious disaster with even the smallest fire. Proper fire education can mean the difference between life and death, and even young children should be taught what to do if they smell smoke. 

It’s important to seek out a professional source for fire preparedness education, but in general, you should keep factors like these in mind:

• Know how to identify the smell of smoke. Small children should be taught that the smell of smoke means there could be a fire, and to tell an adult as soon as they suspect there may be smoke. 

• Know your evacuation routes. The front door could be blocked by flames, so it’s critical that everyone knows different ways to safely escape the building. For homes with second floors, there should be an escape path planned for family members who sleep on the second story. 

• Everyone in the home who is old enough to do so should be educated on how to properly use the fire extinguisher. 

• Children should be taught how to dial 911 in case the adults in the home are unable to or are incapacitated in some way. 

• Do you have plans to help your pets escape as well? Furry friends can become confused and frightened if there is a fire, and keeping them safe should be a priority. 

Again, it’s important to seek out a professional resource — whether online, or in person through a class at a local college or library — so that your family knows what to do if there is a fire. 

Conclusion

For many people, the idea of a home fire is so scary they’d simply prefer not to think about it. This strategy can be a disaster, however, as all it takes is one spark for your home to be sent up in flames. Instead of avoiding the possibility and hoping it doesn’t happen, it’s smart to take active measures to prevent a fire and keep your home — and your family — safe. 

You can use the tips in this guide as a jumping-off point but be sure to follow up on the educational resources and home supplies you need to prevent fires in your home. 

Author Bio

Matt Casadona has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. He is currently a contributing editor for 365 Business Tips. Matt is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys the San Diego life, traveling and music. 

Guest Post - Common Causes of House Fires and How to Prevent Them

Fire incidents are responsible for billions of dollars’ worth of losses in American homes every year, not mentioning the thousands of lives lost from these incidents. Fire is inarguably the most dreadful calamity that can befall any homeowner. There is a positive change, though, as the number of house fires has been on a steady decline within the last decade, largely because most homeowners have invested in modern fire alarm systems.

Alarms help homeowners stop fires before a lot of damage is done. But that is only good enough. To eradicate the problem completely, we all need to understand what causes house fires and how they can be prevented. It is very important to spread awareness and knowledge around this topic, small towns have started holding educational meetings, like Concord Events.

To help you protect your family and your most valuable investment from fire, here are the 5 most common causes of house fires and how you can prevent them:

1.    Cooking 

Many people have a tendency of leaving pots and pans cooking on the stove, unattended. It is also not uncommon to find outdated, faulty appliances still in use in modern kitchens. All these are potential fire hazards in a home. Combine that with faulty or frayed wiring in the kitchen as well as a too-hot cooking oil and you have a real fire problem. There are also people who cook while wearing baggy clothes that can catch fire easily, and those who insist on cooking even when they are sleepy or drunk. This is the main reason why The National Fire Protection Association ranks faulty cooking equipment and reckless behavior in the kitchen as one of the leading causes of house fires. 

If your kitchen is outdated, it is important that you renovate this high-risk space in your next home remodeling project. Secondly, avoid leaving unattended pots and pans whenever you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. Thirdly, only wear close-fitting and tightly rolled sleeves when handling fire in the home. Lastly, order take-out if you are on medication and the drugs are making you drowsy, if you are sleepy, or when high on alcohol. 

2.    Electrical failure

Statistics by the EFSi (Electrical Safety Foundation International) show that short-circuiting due to faulty wiring is the leading cause of electric fire in homes. Circuits that are overloaded with current are also guilty of causing these fires, particularly because overloading causes wires to overheat, which results in sparkling. Electrical problems in homes account for about 19 percent of home fire deaths in the USA. This unfortunate statistic is largely attributed to the fact that most electrical fires often ignite in the dead of night when no one is awake, or in hidden locations where house residents might not detect until it is too late. That is why properly installed electrical systems are very critical in any home 

If your electrical systems are shoddily installed, or if you live in an old home, it is imperative that you invest in a home remodeling project where a professional electrician will install safe wiring systems that have modern built-in protective features. You need systems that are least susceptible to short circuits and overloading. Unless you are a qualified electrician, refrain from doing your own electrical repairs. 

3.    Reckless smoking

Smoking in the bedroom, especially when drowsy, sleepy, or drunk, is a known recipe for house fires. Sometimes smokers forget to extinguish their cigarette or drop cigarette butts anyhow on the floor, not knowing that fabrics and wall paint can easily burst into flames. Placing a cigarette butt on wooden furniture is also very risky. 

It is best that you be smoking outside if you must smoke. If you can quit smoking altogether, the better for your health!  Before putting your cigarette butts in an ashtray after smoking in the house (for those who can’t go outside), soak them in water to extinguish them completely. 

4.    Lighting 

Some old lampshades and light fittings dissipate lots of heat which sometimes becomes a fire hazard if they come in contact with highly flammable material. It is important to ensure that all your lighting fixtures are well insulated to keep the heat in check.

5.    Candles

If you love the ambiance and fragrance of candle-lit evenings, be very careful not to leave lit candles unattended, particularly when they are near flammable household items such as books, bed covers, hanging clothes, etc. And did you know you can achieve the same ambiance and fragrance using battery-powered candles with LEDs rather than candles? And in case you want your ambiance to have a fresh look, put some flowers and grow lights over them, so they can flourish faster. In this way, you will have a safe and good-looking environment. 

Conclusion 

A house can catch fire from literally anything that has a fire or electrical power, not just the five causes we have mentioned. Some houses even catch fire during the hot summer months when temperatures hit 40⁰C and more. You need to take all the measures that you feel will protect your home from fire. 

Author Bio: Avery is a real estate consultant who partners with CEOs, executives, and solopreneurs to grow their personal and professional goals, human-to-human. After spending nearly a decade working with real estate and marketing, Avery knows what truly drives conversions, serious goals and good outcomes. It’s how well you connect with the heart-beating people you’re trying to help and communicate your understanding back to them.